With the two-month “Gaurav Yatra” of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje concluding in Ajmer on Saturday, the ruling BJP is set to launch its election campaign shortly, even before the announcement of the dates of the Assembly polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by BJP president Amit Shah, will address a huge meeting on the occasion.
Mr. Modi will visit Rajasthan to address a series of public meetings in the run-up to the election.
The BJP election management committee has proposed a schedule of rallies in seven districts, mainly covering the areas where the party is perceived to be weak.
‘Historic one’
BJP State president Madan Lal Saini said the public meeting on the Kayad Vishram Sthali grounds in Ajmer would be a historic one. “The Prime Minister’s address will not only help build a favourable mood among the electorate but he will also guide the party workers for bringing victory to the BJP,” he said.
Mr. Shah had flagged off Ms. Raje’s yatra from the Charbhujanath temple in Rajsamand district on August 4, in the presence of party workers and the public from the Mewar region. Ms. Raje used a modified bus as a “chariot” during the journey, covering more than 120 Assembly constituencies by spending 35 days on the road. Except Bharatpur, she covered all divisions in the State.
The much-publicised yatra faced disruptions when some miscreants threw stones on the bus during Ms. Raje’s public meeting in Pipar town of Jodhpur district. Gujjars threatened to stop the march with the demand for reservation. A public interest litigation petition was filed in the Rajashan High Court alleging that public money was being spent on the yatra.
The High Court directed the BJP on September 5 to stop organising government functions en route, and termed the holding of public functions during the march “abuse of power”. The issue of alleged misuse of public money was briefly raised in the Assembly.
A proposed march of the protesting government employees, who have been on a strike for several days, to the Ajmer rally venue may create a difficult situation for the administration.
Federation of Ministerial Staff president Manoj Saxena said the employees would stage a protest to draw Mr. Modi’s attention to their demands.